Social compatibility as a consideration in caring for nursing home residents with dementia.
A major challenge for caregivers in nursing homes is to provide high-quality, person-centered care to a large population of residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias who have extreme variations in behavioral manifestations, cognitive abilities, and social functioning. This article describes a model of dementia care in which individual care needs are addressed and the social environment is valued as an essential element in care considerations. This model, termed the Social Compatibility Model, suggests 4 groups for dementia care based on social skills and disease presentation. The model provides caregivers with care strategies for each group and serves as a guideline for making decisions about placing and/or relocating residents to the most appropriate social group as they progress from moderate to severe dementia. The goal of this model is to provide guidance to caregivers for creating a therapeutic social environment and an improved quality of life for nursing home residents.
Cherry
Barbara
B
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. Barbara.cherry@ttuhsc.edu
Carpenter
Ken
K
Waters
Cheryl
C
Hawkins
W W
WW
McGrew
Pamela
P
Satterwhite
Leah J
LJ
Stepien
Julie
J
Ruppelt
Wanda
W
Herring
Kent
K
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009735:Nursing Homes; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States